Method and apparatus for processing arbitrary key bit length encryption operations with similar efficiencies

1. A system for processing data including a data encryption apparatus comprising:

a plurality of individual processing elements arranged in a serial array wherein a first processing element precedes a second processing element which precedes a final processing element;

a port in electrical communication with at least a processing element of the serial array for providing data to the serial array for processing; and

logic circuitry in electrical communication with the port and with at least two processing elements of the serial array for, in use, processing data indicative of an encryption key length to determine a last processing element of the serial array and for providing a signal to one of the at least two processing elements that is the determined processor element of the serial array in dependence upon the data indicative of an encryption key length;

the processing elements configured to propagate data along a forward processing path for further processing in a step-wise forward serial fashion from the first processing element only until the last processing element and precluding the data from passing through further processing elements after the last processing element,

wherein at least two of the processing elements within a same pipeline processor are determinable as the last processing element with the last processing element being other than the final processing element.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of individual processing elements are arranged in two or more pipeline processing arrays wherein the arrays are for independently receiving data for processing or for, when the last processing element status is attributed to a processing element beyond the last processing element of a single pipeline processing array, being concatenated into a single larger array.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein fewer than a total number processing elements are determinable as the last processing elements.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the processing elements determinable as the last processing elements further comprise circuitry for receiving the signal.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the logic circuitry is a gate logic switching circuit for providing a signal to the determined processing element via an addressable datapath.

6. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the logic circuitry comprises:

a second processor for executing program code to determine a last processing element in dependence upon the data indicative of an encryption key length and for providing a signal to the determined processing element; and

a communication path extending between the second processor and at least two of the processing elements of the serial array for conducting the signal from the second processor to the determined processing element.

7. A system for processing data including a data encryption apparatus comprising:

a plurality of individual processing elements arranged in a serial array wherein a first processing element precedes a second processing element which precedes a final processing element; and

a logic circuit internal to each individual processing element for, in use, processing data indicative of an encryption key length and for providing a signal internal to the processing element indicative of a last processing element status, the signal provided in dependence upon the data indicative of an encryption key length,

the processing elements configured to propagate data along a forward processing path for further processing in a step-wise forward serial fashion from the first processing element only until the last processing element and precluding the data from passing through further processing elements after the last processing element;

wherein at least two of the processing elements within a same pipeline processor are determinable as the last processing element and with the last processing element being other than the final processing element.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plurality of individual processing elements are arranged in two or more pipeline processing arrays wherein the arrays are for independently receiving data for processing or for, when the last processing element status is attributed to a processing element beyond the last processing element of a single pipeline processing array, being concatenated into a single larger array.

9. A system for processing data including a data encryption apparatus comprising:

a plurality of individual processing elements arranged in a serial array wherein a first processing element precedes a second processing element which precedes a final processing element;

a port in electrical communication with at least a processing element of the serial array for providing data to the serial array for processing; and

logic circuitry in electrical communication with the port and with at least two processing elements of the serial array for, in use, processing data indicative of an encryption key length to determine a last processing element of the serial array and for providing a signal to one of the at least two processing elements that is the determined processor element of the serial array in dependence upon the data indicative of an encryption key length,

wherein fewer than a total number processing elements are determinable as the last processing elements,

wherein the processing elements determinable as the last processing elements further comprise circuitry for receiving the signal, and

wherein the logic circuitry comprises:

a second processor for executing program code to determine a last processing element in dependence upon the data indicative of a key length and for providing a signal to the determined processing element; and

a communication path extending between the second processor and at least two of the processing elements of the serial array for conducting the signal from the second processor to the determined processing element.